This is the summer when you should acquire a windshield sunshade.

This is the summer when you should acquire a windshield sunshade.

      Andrew P. Collins

      

      

      

      

      

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      It's still early in the year, and already, temperatures in wooded New York have soared close to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. It's a good time to invest in a sunshade for your windshield. While they can be a bit of a hassle to use, they are extremely effective at shielding your car's interior from the sun's harsh rays.

      

      Where to Find Quality Sunshades

      ☀️ HeatShield sunshades are thick and roll-up instead of folding, making them one of my favorite aftermarket options.

      ☀️ RealTruck stocks brands like Covercraft, Coverking, and Husky Liners, all of which I’ve had great experiences with, along with additional choices. Some even feature appealing automaker logos.

      ☀️ Dash Designs, which is also available through RealTruck, manufactures the retractable shade I use in my Montero. I've had it for over six years, and it continues to function perfectly.

      

      No one enjoys stepping into a hot car on a warm day—the wait for the A/C to kick in while sweat drips from your face is the worst. However, the true advantage of a sunshade is its ability to prolong the lifespan of your dashboard and interior materials. The plastics, vinyl, and leather inside your vehicle don’t handle excessive heat cycles well, especially extreme temperatures. The older your vehicle, the closer its dashboard is to deterioration.

      A little prevention goes a long way. In this case, managing an unwieldy windshield cover is far more bearable than replacing a cracked dashboard or damaged leather seats.

      

      

      

      This is still one of my top modifications. Andrew P. Collins

      A car's windshield effectively transforms your cabin into a greenhouse. Short-wave solar radiation passes through the glass and is absorbed by dark interior surfaces, leading to their deterioration. These surfaces then release long-wave infrared heat (thermal radiation). Since glass doesn't let this long-wave radiation escape, heat gets trapped, creating a cycle that can make the interior plastics of an E46 BMW feel like crayons.

      Cracking the windows helps a bit, but reducing heat is only part of the solution. While modern car glass blocks a significant amount of ultraviolet (UV) rays, it doesn’t block all of them. If you lack a garage or carport, a smaller solid barrier, like a sunshade, provides the best protection. It can prevent visible light and infrared (heat) that the glass’s filters don’t block from damaging cabin materials.

      A study published in the International Journal of Automobile Engineering from Aswan University in Egypt discovered that covering front and rear windows significantly lowers dashboard temperatures. Similarly, the Florida Solar Energy Center in the U.S. reached the same conclusion, showing a 40-degree reduction in dashboard temperatures when using a sunshade. Popular Mechanics also conducted an experiment revealing that the cabin temperature of an old Mazda RX-7 was up to 20 degrees cooler after half an hour in the sun with a shade, compared to without.

      Do not depend on a sunshade to keep temperatures within acceptable limits for anything alive or made of chocolate—you should absolutely avoid leaving a dog, child, plant, or chocolate bar in a sun-soaked vehicle without the engine and A/C running, even for a brief time.

      However, when it comes to safeguarding your interior, a simple reflective tool can be very effective.

      I prefer to use different styles for different vehicles. Both my BMW F31 wagon and E46 coupe feature original BMW sunshades—I appreciate their straightforward “BMW” design. They have an appealing vintage look that I enjoy. When I owned a Z31 300ZX, I used a fun synthwave-inspired '80s sunshade. My previous FG2 Honda Civic had a massive windshield, and I loved the thick, gold Heatshield brand sun visor I had in it, which complemented my black paint perfectly.

      If you can't park in the shade, create your own. Andrew P. Collins

      The best type of sunshades are those that are permanently mounted to the glass and retract, like the accordion-style system I have in my Montero. When I park in the sun, I simply pull the "curtains" together and secure them with Velcro in the middle. Just a heads up, I get teased about having these frequently—some think they look redneck—but my 25-year-old dashboard remains uncracked!

      There are numerous brands that make these types of sunshades, so you should easily find one that fits your vehicle. I strongly recommend investing in a tailor-made one that fits your windshield, though. These can be a hassle to manage inside your car, but

This is the summer when you should acquire a windshield sunshade. This is the summer when you should acquire a windshield sunshade. This is the summer when you should acquire a windshield sunshade. This is the summer when you should acquire a windshield sunshade. This is the summer when you should acquire a windshield sunshade.

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This is the summer when you should acquire a windshield sunshade.

A basic sun visor can help prevent significant damage to your dashboard. Additionally, it will make entering your car much more comfortable!